Ruth Price's blog

Downbeat Magazine Article by Kirk Silsbee

A feature by writer Kirk Silsbee from the May edition of Downbeat Magazine. Ruth Price plays a waiting game with regard to the realization of a second site for her suspended Jazz Bakery.  Ever since early 2009, when her landlord unceremoniously terminated the lease on the club’s Culver City home, she’s been an impresario without a permanent venue.  Far from idle, she books an ongoing schedule of tantalizing shows at various locations around Southern California under the Bakery’s banner of  “Moveable Feast.” 

For its 16-year life, the Jazz Bakery invigorated jazz in Los Angeles, drawing good bands to its Culver City site that otherwise wouldn’t have had a place to play in Southern California.

Gretchen Parlato keeps her jazz options open
The singer's eclectic influences on her 2011 album, 'The Lost and Found,' had critics scrambling for superlatives, and she's just hitting her stride as a writer.

Singer Gretchen Parlato. (David Bartolomi, David Bartolomi / January 19, 2012)

By Chris Barton, Los Angeles Times

January 20, 2012

Though this year's Grammy nominations in jazz are without any Earth-rippling surprises à la last year's new-artist breakthrough by Esperanza Spalding, L.A.-born singer-songwriter Gretchen Parlato could've been considered a solid bet to follow in her footsteps if ours was the sort of world where lightning could strike twice.

Though Parlato's 2011 album, "The Lost and Found," was overlooked by the Recording Academy, it was a fixture on many best-of lists at the end of the year, including Rhapsody's inaugural Jazz Critics' Poll (formerly hosted at the Village Voice). Touching on a similarly eclectic lineup of influences that includes elements of pop, funk and Brazilian music, the record could sit comfortably next to Spalding's "Chamber Music Society," led by Parlato's lilting voice and a sharp band given ample room to shine. And like the record that helped break Spalding to a national audience, hers isn't a typical jazz recording.

"It is her sound, her phrasing, her interpretation that makes her interesting," KCRW host Tom Schnabel wrote in an email. Schnabel also chose "The Lost and Found" as his album of the year on the station's website. "She's not just another jazz singer tackling old jazz tunes that have been covered way too much already"....

For the full article, please click on the following link: LA Times Jan 20, 2012

Because I'm such a fan, I'm delighted to announce that Roseanna Vitro is submitted in the "vocal jazz" category for Grammy consideration!

Her project, The Music of Randy Newman, was presented at an extremely-well-received Jazz Bakery "Movable Feast" in May of this year.

This week on KCET’s SoCal Connected, correspondent Michael Okwu pays homage to one of the music industry’s iconic treasures; the “Ambassador of Jazz,” Herbie Hancock at home and on stage. Okwu gains unprecedented access to the 70-year-old jazz great as he prepares for a signature event with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

The show takes you from the origins of Hancock’s career as a musical prodigy when he played with legendary trumpeter Miles Davis, to his time recording hit songs for commercials and TV, to the present as he spearheads the LA Philharmonic & Hollywood Bowl jazz programs with renowned composer Gustavo Dudamel. The half hour special also features amazing performances and never before seen footage of Hancock.

The episode airs Friday, October 28 at 8:30 p.m.

This can also be viewed on our facebook page by clicking here.

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Straight out of the '60s -- here's a rare clip from TV's 'Shindig' featuring Ruth Price and Stan Getz performing "The Telephone Song." (Thank you, James Gavin!) That's Gary Burton on vibes and Gene Cherico (we think) on bass. Can anyone identify the drummer? — with Ruth Price.

p.s. Thank you to all who helped solve the mystury drummer, it was indeed Joe Hunt !

Maurice Hall (“Maury,” to us) became the Jazz Bakery’s founding chairman in 1992, and remained a core part of the board until his recent passing. 

Put quite simply, there would be no Jazz Bakery if there were no Maury Hall.  He forcibly convinced me to take it on.

We miss his wisdom and steadying influence, and his unswerving support and love of the music.

From Ruth Price, President & Artistic Director, and the entire Jazz Bakery Board of Directors

Dear Ruth,

You make the jazz world a better place. I also thank you for all your support over the past few years – encouraging me and helping me build an audience in Los Angeles. Of all the venues I've even played your's is my favorite (even "on the move") because it's so personal and you book with your heart and ears which, ultimately, I believe is good for business because audiences know they can rely on you. You're the NPR of jazz clubs!

See you in 2012

love from Tess Souter

Begin forwarded message:

From: Alan Broadbent
Date: July 25, 2011 11:32:49 PM PDT
To: Ruth Price <ruth@jazzbakery.org>
Subject: Re: last Saturday night

Dear Ruth.

I'm very glad it went well and it was a pleasure to play for everyone. Yeah, that comedy thing surprised me too!

And you. Singlehandedly you've kept this institution going over the years so that people can continue to hear jazz in an environment worthy of the music. I'll miss you a lot, as I miss you not singing all those obscure, beautiful standards you used to do.

With love, affection and admiration,

Alan

"What's best in music won't be found in the notes."  Mahler

On Jul 19, 2011, at 3:20 PM, Ruth Price wrote:

Dearest Alan,

Your playing was delicious, and, surprise, I never knew about your comedy chops!  The Jazz Bakery actually made some money (not so typical for us), which we badly need to stay afloat until the "big build."  You must know by now that I love you, and I thank you with all my heart for your expressed loyalty to the JB, and for your personal friendship, which I treasure.

Always Yours,

Ruth

Here are some images of The Nicholas Payton XXX playing at a Movable Feast Event

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